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Nautical Know How
  • Our Courses

      All our courses are engaging, interactive and fun! Whether formal training or simply looking to brush up, we take online learning to the next level.

      • Sailing EssentialsFreeA free course great for anyone who spends time on the water.
      • Essential Navigation & SeamanshipRYA course for beginners. Learn charts, tides, pilotage, and core seamanship with simple practice tasks.
      • Day Skipper TheoryMost PopularRYA course for inshore skippers. Plan day passages using chartwork, tides, weather, and COLREGs.
      • Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster® TheoryComing SoonRYA course for advanced navigation and passage planning. Work with secondary ports, tidal streams, and offshore weather.
      • SRC (VHF) Marine Radio CourseRYA Short Range Certificate radio course. Study online, then take the practical exam with an RYA assessor.
  • Directory

      Are you looking for something nautical related? Our directory is an extensive list of courses and places associated with the marine industry. Hop over and search now.

      • Places
        Find anywhere nautical, including marinas & training centres. If it exists, we’ve got it listed!
      • Courses
        We help you navigate through the complex world of training and help find what’s best for you.
  • Know-How

      We believe every day’s a school day on a boat! That’s why we built Nautical Know-How, dedicated to answering your questions. Even better, if it can’t answer your question immediately, you can request it, and we’ll add it to our knowledge base.

      • Nautical Terms & Terminology
        Understanding the language of the marine world is like trying to learn a pirate’s secret code while juggling fish. Let us explain why a sheet isn’t for your bed, why “heave ho” doesn’t mean throw up (most of the time), and why “dead reckoning” is surprisingly less ominous than it sounds.
      • Why do we have tides?
        Have you ever wondered what causes the tides? Check out this video, which introduces the forces that create the tides we experience on Earth.
      • What causes our weather?
        A video introducing the drivers behind our weather, part of our RYA Day Skipper & RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster® Offshore theory courses.
      • Buoyage Flashcards
        Flashcards designed to help remember the buoys in the IALA system. If you want to learn them in detail, our module ‘Getting in and out of harbour‘, covers the IALA system and different buoys used.
      • Interactive Rule Book (COLREGs / IRPCS)
        Whether you’re a novice sailor or a seasoned skipper, we can help you navigate the IRPCS confidently and clearly. Our easy-to-use, easy-to-understand, plain English rule book with helpful interpretations of what each rule means.
      • The Salty Sea Blog
        From salty old sea dogs to fresh-faced deckhands, this blog is for anyone who finds peace, adventure, and a bit of mischief on the water. So hoist the main, set your course, and let’s sail into the stories, lessons, and musings that make life on the sea so irresistible.
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Nautical Know How
  • Our Courses

      All our courses are engaging, interactive and fun! Whether formal training or simply looking to brush up, we take online learning to the next level.

      • Sailing EssentialsFreeA free course great for anyone who spends time on the water.
      • Essential Navigation & SeamanshipRYA course for beginners. Learn charts, tides, pilotage, and core seamanship with simple practice tasks.
      • Day Skipper TheoryMost PopularRYA course for inshore skippers. Plan day passages using chartwork, tides, weather, and COLREGs.
      • Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster® TheoryComing SoonRYA course for advanced navigation and passage planning. Work with secondary ports, tidal streams, and offshore weather.
      • SRC (VHF) Marine Radio CourseRYA Short Range Certificate radio course. Study online, then take the practical exam with an RYA assessor.
  • Directory

      Are you looking for something nautical related? Our directory is an extensive list of courses and places associated with the marine industry. Hop over and search now.

      • Places
        Find anywhere nautical, including marinas & training centres. If it exists, we’ve got it listed!
      • Courses
        We help you navigate through the complex world of training and help find what’s best for you.
  • Know-How

      We believe every day’s a school day on a boat! That’s why we built Nautical Know-How, dedicated to answering your questions. Even better, if it can’t answer your question immediately, you can request it, and we’ll add it to our knowledge base.

      • Nautical Terms & Terminology
        Understanding the language of the marine world is like trying to learn a pirate’s secret code while juggling fish. Let us explain why a sheet isn’t for your bed, why “heave ho” doesn’t mean throw up (most of the time), and why “dead reckoning” is surprisingly less ominous than it sounds.
      • Why do we have tides?
        Have you ever wondered what causes the tides? Check out this video, which introduces the forces that create the tides we experience on Earth.
      • What causes our weather?
        A video introducing the drivers behind our weather, part of our RYA Day Skipper & RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster® Offshore theory courses.
      • Buoyage Flashcards
        Flashcards designed to help remember the buoys in the IALA system. If you want to learn them in detail, our module ‘Getting in and out of harbour‘, covers the IALA system and different buoys used.
      • Interactive Rule Book (COLREGs / IRPCS)
        Whether you’re a novice sailor or a seasoned skipper, we can help you navigate the IRPCS confidently and clearly. Our easy-to-use, easy-to-understand, plain English rule book with helpful interpretations of what each rule means.
      • The Salty Sea Blog
        From salty old sea dogs to fresh-faced deckhands, this blog is for anyone who finds peace, adventure, and a bit of mischief on the water. So hoist the main, set your course, and let’s sail into the stories, lessons, and musings that make life on the sea so irresistible.
  • Chandlery
Sign In Join now—it’s Free

Glossary

AJAX progress indicator
Nautical chart abbreviations are like the secret code of the seas—except instead of buried treasure, they lead to rocks, buoys, and mysterious dashed lines that scream, 'Don’t sail here.' Learning them can feel like cracking a pirate’s encrypted diary, but don’t worry, matey! With clever tools, quirky mnemonics, and a splash of humour, we’ll help you go from 'What’s "FOUL" mean? to confidently navigating the “Wk” wrecks and “Fl G” flashes like a salty sea captain. Think of it as Rosetta Stone, but for avoiding sandbanks!
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Results: 1149
  • Term
    Definition
  • General Nautical Terminology Bow Spring

    A mooring line that runs diagonally from the bow of a vessel to a fixed point on a dock, used to control forward and backward movement while...

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  • General Nautical Terminology BowspritA spar projecting from the bow used to attach the tack of some headsails, particularly asymmetric spinnakers
  • Phonetic Alphabet, Signals & Communication Bravo

    Pronounced: BRAH-voh

    The term for the letter B in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet.

  • General Nautical Terminology BreakwaterA structure constructed on a coast as part of a coastal defense system or to protect an anchorage from the effects of weather and longshore drift.
  • General Nautical Terminology BroachWhen a sailing vessel loses control of its motion and is forced into a sudden sharp turn, often heeling heavily and in smaller vessels sometimes... More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology Broad Reach


    A point of sail where the wind comes from behind the beam of the boat, typically at an angle of 90 to 160 degrees relative to the vessel's...

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  • General Nautical Terminology Bruce Anchor

    A type of claw-shaped anchor designed to provide strong holding power in a variety of seabed conditions. 

    The Bruce anchor, also known as...

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  • General Nautical Terminology, Navigation BTW

    The direction from a vessel's current position to a predetermined navigational point or waypoint.

    In marine navigation, Bearing to Waypoint is...

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  • General Nautical Terminology BulkheadAn upright wall within the hull of a ship. Particularly a watertight, load-bearing wall.
  • General Nautical Terminology BungSoftwood device for plugging holes in vessel or failed seacocks.
  • General Nautical Terminology Bunk

     A built-in bed or sleeping berth on a boat or ship, typically compact and designed to maximise space efficiency. 

    A bunk is a fundamental...

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  • General Nautical Terminology Buoy

    A floating device anchored at a specific location in a body of water, used as a navigational aid, marker, or warning signal for vessels.

    A...

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  • General Nautical Terminology, Safety Buoyancy Aid

    A personal flotation device designed to assist a person in staying afloat in water, typically used in recreational boating or water sports.

    A...

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  • General Nautical Terminology, Safety Buoyant Smoke Flare

    A floating pyrotechnic device that emits dense, orange coloured smoke to signal distress or indicate position at sea. 

    A buoyant smoke flare...

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  • General Nautical Terminology BurgeeA triangular flag worn at the masthead
  • Did you know?, Nautical Saying By and Large

    “By and large”—another classic sailing phrase that’s drifted into everyday English. Here’s the nautical story behind it:

    ⚓ Nautical Origin of...

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  • General Nautical Terminology, Parts of a Boat Cabin

    An enclosed space on a boat or ship that provides shelter and accommodation for passengers or crew.

    A cabin on a boat or ship is a designated...

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  • General Nautical Terminology Cable

    Unit of measure (distance)

    A cable is a unit of distance traditionally used to measure short distances at sea. It is generally considered...

    More Details
  • General Nautical Terminology Cable More Details
  • Navigation CADET

    The CADET mnemonic can help remember the corrections needed when converting between True North and Compass North bearings. It assists in...

    More Details
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